Microsoft joins ISPON as corporate member

ITRealms:

Finally, Microsoft Nigeria has joined the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), ITRealms can authoritatively report.

ITRealms also reports that this follows extensive discussions and mapping out of strategies on how best to collaborate towards the development of the Nigerian software ecosystem.

Confirming this, President of ISPON, Mr. Pius Okigbo, Jr revealed that Microsoft Nigeria has officially formalized its corporate membership of the apex body for software developers in Nigeria.

At an official presentation of the certificate of membership to Microsoft Nigeria and handover of a white paper on sustenance of a strategic partnership between the duo, in brief ceremony attended by key officials on both sides, Mr. Okigbo, Jr. reiterated the resolve of ISPON to build indigenous capacity by bolstering software local content.

He stressed the importance of protecting and advocating intellectual property rights as it concerns indigenous software development through its various channels and events and stated that Microsoft Nigeria must play a key role in the realization of these goals.

In his response, Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria Mr. Kabelo Makwane, expressed his pleasure at the approach of ISPON towards addressing these key issues and hammered on the fact that the partnership should be on a long term basis judging by the enormity and importance of the issues identified.

Further, he tasked ISPON to facilitate a unified and strong software industry which will speak with one voice and thereby lend credence in the advocacy of its cause.

Equally speaking, immediate past President of ISPON, Mr. Chris Uwaje, commended the new partnership and welcomed Microsoft on board, tasking the company to assert its role in the development of the Nigerian software ecosystem as Nigeria has a pool of young talented software developers, a large percentage of which will be churned into the software ecosystem in the next decade creating a vibrant software industry.

Microsoft Nigeria confirmed its acceptance of the strategic partnership with ISPON and pledged its support to participate at the forthcoming ISPON National Software Conference & Competition holding in Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River State in October.

Remmy Nweke:
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